Dealing with Junior Staff
By jennyze
@jennyze (7028)
Indonesia
May 3, 2011 9:13pm CST
I think many of you who has become a senior executive must have had an exasperating experience dealing with Junior staff in the company or in others company.
It's been more than four years that I dealt with trips for all the executives in the company. I worked with a travel agent to book all the flights and I made friends with the senior staffs there that I could easily pick up a phone and say: "Hi, please book 2 seats for Mr. A & Mr. B to LA on May 17th and back on May 25th. Thanks."
Now, when all the senior staffs were busy, I got the junior staff handling my call. And I had to answer all of her questions like: Where do you want to book the flight to? What flight do you want to travel with? What are the passengers names? Are they Mr or Mrs? What type of seat do you prefer? What is your company name? What is your telephone number? What is your name? Let me re-read the itinerary for you. Time limit is blah blah blah and so on... I wanted to scream ughhhhhhhhhh..... Just get it done and email me the detail. What is your email address?...ughhhhhh...
But then after I hanged up I would think again that she could be me when I was a junior staff... So I tried to answer all the questions...
1 person likes this
6 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
4 May 11
It does get frustrating to be repeating yourself over and over. But remembering that long ago we were there helps to understand. Besides think of the great person they are asking questions from. One day you will look back and say wow they learned from the best. 
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
4 May 11
Hi Jenny!
It is not an easy task to deal with junior staff and specially with those who are inexperienced and are just learning the tricks of the trade. When I was junior and if anybody used to shout at me for my fault, I would think in my heart of hearts – “Cannot s/he be bit polite in pointing out my mistakes?” I would think at that point of time that whenever I will become senior I would deal with the junior staff with due patience and politeness. Now, when I have spent many years in my job and am a senior now when I need to deal with junior staff, most of the time I try to be polite and courteous, even if they commit very silly or unexpected mistakes. I try not to lose my temper with newcomers because they are not as experienced as me. I think patience is the key to success, if one wants to garner respect of the junior staff.
Very Good Post !
It is not an easy task to deal with junior staff and specially with those who are inexperienced and are just learning the tricks of the trade. When I was junior and if anybody used to shout at me for my fault, I would think in my heart of hearts – “Cannot s/he be bit polite in pointing out my mistakes?” I would think at that point of time that whenever I will become senior I would deal with the junior staff with due patience and politeness. Now, when I have spent many years in my job and am a senior now when I need to deal with junior staff, most of the time I try to be polite and courteous, even if they commit very silly or unexpected mistakes. I try not to lose my temper with newcomers because they are not as experienced as me. I think patience is the key to success, if one wants to garner respect of the junior staff.
Very Good Post !
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
4 May 11
I understand your point. It was your bad luck that you had to deal with a junior staff and she wasted your precious time, which would have been used here on mylot
(poor girl! she did not know the value of your time ).
(poor girl! she did not know the value of your time ).@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
4 May 11
I think I tried my best not to scream at them and answered all their questions and listen to all the details before I asked them to email me the itin. It only takes about two minutes call and two minutes checking on the email when the senior staff does it. With the junior staff, it takes altogether about 10 minutes where alternatively I could type in my responses and comments in myLot with those minutes.
You know I am selfish...
You know I am selfish...
I would then ask them to transfer me to their seniors.
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
4 May 11
It is good to remember where we came from. Those who are behind us may eventually exceed us. If you help the junior staff learn, you will know that they have been trained the right way. I know it is frustrating some times but it will pay off with well trained junior staff in the long run.
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
6 Mar 12
Perhaps you could give formal lessons. Thanks for the best response.
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
9 Mar 12
Well, the company where I am working now has urged me to give some trainings in correspondences and languages... the problem is I am too strict a teacher and I don't tolerate repeated mistakes... so it's better to give this kind of job to others who have more patient...
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
4 May 11
It can be funny. Last time I went to the counter to book a ticket, the line was long, very long. So I called a travel agent while standing in the line as a backup. Of course they can "facilitate" a confirmed reservation. It took me half an hour just to spell and confirm the spelling of my name. You know my real name and how long it is. By this time the line had moved up and I was at the counter and got my ticket from there.
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
4 May 11
Yes, sometimes they just being cautious with booking on the phone, still they took time in the details. What I did is normally gave them the dates, destinations and names and they would email me the detail. I would check everything from there. It's simpler and quicker...
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
4 May 11
I have analyzed this situation many times and have come to this conclusion. People at Junior desks are slow. Well normally they are young and prefer to spend their private life fast, really fast! While they are at work, the utilize their "slow reserves", very slowly, incredibly slowly, excruciatingly slowly. So, what do you expect?
The situation with senior staff is different, middle aged, with a mortgage to pay off, children to educate, a car which sputters into life occasionally, a nagging spouse, old parents who who take devilish pleasure in keeping them guessing as to when they will kick the bucket and a life which always seems to be inferior than anyone else's. You and your issues are just another problem for them and they just get done with it. In fact it is a real pleasure for them as it is the only real problem they can handle without feeling helpless.
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
4 May 11
I guess they were nervous, so they did a slow motion work. Unless they had been with the company for over two months and still did the slow motion works, that's when your analysis applies here.
I guess I am just too demanding, I want everything to be fast and correct. I remember I did stay in the office till 9pm just to get to know my work better when I was a junior staff. Even now, whenever I moved to a new company I would stay longer just to get the hang of it, cause I don't like to make mistakes and be scolded by managers or clients...
